Hydraulic flush tank with improved seating and resealing means

ABSTRACT

A valve, plug and pressure responsive diaphragm combination for use in a flushing device of the type which includes a closed container for receiving and retaining a quantity of pressurized water. The plug is capable of being seated within the outlet of the tank and has an aperture therein into which the valve is slidably received. The valve is attached to a stem which in turn is affixed to the diaphragm. The plug, which cannot move to a position lower than the seated position, is moved upward from a seated position when the tank is flushed by pulling on a knob affixed on the end of the stem opposite the valve. The valve can move in both an upward and downward direction from the seated position. When the knob is pulled in an upward direction, the valve causes the plug to move in an upward direction. However, because the valve is free to move in a downward direction independently of the movement of the plug, liquid can flow through the aperture in the plug to reseal a bowl after the tank has been flushed and the plug has been seated. To reseal the tank, the diaphragm responds to the pressure created by liquid coming into the tank, after the tank has been flushed, by rising and thereby slowly raises the valve until the valve is seated in the aperture in the plug.

United States Patent [191 Caron et a1.

' [111 3,817,286 June 18, 1974 HYDRAULIC FLUSH TANK WITH IMPROVED SEATING AND RESEALING MEANS [75] Inventors: Roger P. Caron, North Andover;

Thomas P. Howard, Ashland, both of Mass. 73] Assignee: Water Control Products, Inc.,

Birmingham, Mich. [22] Filed: Aug. 17, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 281,403

[52] US. Cl 137/628, 4/29, 4/30 [51] Int. Cl E03d 3/02, F16k 21/18 [58] Field of Search 4/26, 29, 30, 31; 251/38; I, 137/216; 137/628, 630.14, 630.15

[56] v References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 566,770 9/1896 Kenney 251/38 566,771 9/1896 Kenney 137/630.l4X 2,170,321 3/1939 Charroin 4/26 3,555,571 l/l97l Gibbs et a1 4/31 3,605,125 9/1971 Gibbs et a1 4/26 3,677,294 7/1972 Gibbs et al ..-4/26 X Primary Examiner-William R. Cline Assistant Examiner-Gerald A. Michalsky Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Kenway & .lenney [57] ABSTRACT A valve, plug and pressure responsive diaphragm com bination for use in a flushing device of the type which includes a closed container for receiving and retaining a quantity of pressurized water. The plug is capable of being seated within the outlet of the tank and has an aperture therein into which the valve is slidably received. The valve is attached to a stem which in turn is affixed to the diaphragm. The plug, which cannot move to a position lower than the seated position, is moved upward from a seated position when the tank is flushed by pulling on a knob affixed on the end of the stem opposite the valve. The valve can move in both an upward and downward direction from the seated position. When the knob is pulled in an upward direction, the valve causes the plug to move in an upward direction. However, because the valve is free to move in a downward direction independently of the movement of the plug, liquid can flow through the aperture in the plug to reseal a bowl after the tank has been flushed and the plug has been seated. To reseal the tank, the diaphragm responds to the pressure created by liquid coming into the tank, after the tank has been flushed, by rising and thereby slowly raises the valve until the valve is seated in the aperture in the plug.

8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures sum 1 or 7 FIG.8"

HYDRAULIC FLUSH TANK WITH IMPROVED SEATING AND RESEALING MEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The field of the present invention is liquid flushing assemblies. The present invention, more particularly, relates to a small compact water flushing assembly for rapidly discharging a quantity of water as a slug of water under pressure.

Because of the relatively large volume of water necessary to flush conventional gravity type toilets, a significant effort has been made in recent years to develop devices which enable gravity type toilets to operate effectively with reduced amounts of water.

One type of device which enables efiicient flushing with a fraction of the amount of water utilized by conventional gravity type toilets is a hydraulic toilet flushing device.

Hydraulic toilet flushing devices are very effective in that they can be flushed with. a relatively smallvolume of water and have performance characteristics which are competitive with conventional gravity type toilets. Indeed, such devices are a significant breakthrough in the water closet art.

The present invention is directed to a new and improved seating and rescaling means for use in hydraulic toilet flushing devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a new hydraulic flush tank system with an improved seating and rescaling device. The device includes the combination of a pressure responsive diaphragm and a sealing plug with a valve slidably received within an aperture in the plug. The valve is affixed to the diaphragm so that when the diaphragm moves in response to the increased pressure created by incoming liquid, the valve is raised to reseal the tank.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved hydraulic toilet.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a cylinder associated with a hermetically sealed tank for holding an amount of liquid and compressed air, an outlet from the tank through the cylinder, a normally closed plug and a means for raising the plug to flush the tank, and a valve in conjunction with the plug which allows a quantity of water through the plug to reseal a bowl.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a closed tank or container for receiving pressurized water through a small inlet and discharging the water from an outlet relatively larger than the inlet under the control of a cylinder in which a plug is adapted to be moved from a seated position in the outlet for rapidly discharging a quantity of water.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved seating and rescaling means for a hydraulic liquid discharging device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved flushing device which operates efficiently with reduced amounts of liquid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in section of the tank of FIG. l.showing the components of the improved seating and resealing means as they would be positioned at the beginning of a flush cycle;

FIGS. 3-5 are views similar to FIG. 2, but showing the orientation of the various components of the seating and rescaling means at different times during the flush cycle;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are views similar to FIG. 2, but showing the various components of the seating and rescaling means as they would be positioned within the tank at different times during a reseal cycle; and

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the tank in a sealed and seated position ready for the commencement of the flushcycle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention relates in general to liquid flushing devices and more particularly to hydraulic toilets for rapidly flushing water or other liquids from the tank and automatically refilling the tank.

Referring to FIG. 1, a hermetically sealed container or tank 10 is shown secured ona bowl 12 with a filler tube 14 connected through the bottom portion of the tank 10. It is to be noted that the tank 10 of the present invention is mounted in association with a toilet bowl 12. The tank 10 of the present invention, however, may be adapted to be mounted within a conventional toilet tank as a replacement for conventional flushing equipment.

tween a filler tube 14 and a conduit 18. Conduit 18 is connected to a source of pressurized water such as a typical source of city water with an average pressure which in most cases is in the order of thirty pounds per square inch or higher. An air vent tube 20 is equipped with a seat 22 in the bottom thereof with a check ball 24 loosely retained in the lower end portion of the tube by a pin 26.

As is also shown in FIG. 2, the upper end of a cylinder 38 is vertically secured and sealed through tank 10 by means of threads 40. The lower end portion or output end portion of the cylinder 38 is also sealed into tank 10.

The improved seating and rescaling means of the present invention is contained within cylinder 38 and includes a plug 42 which is slidable within said cylinder. A seat 45 is formed on the bottom portion of cylinder 38. Plug 42 is inclusive of a gasket 43 which forms a hermetical seal with seat 45 when plug 42 is in the seated position. The plug 42 has a central axial bore 44 for slidably receiving a valve stem 46. Also formed in plug 42 are bores 47 which communicate with axial bore 44. Formed in the lower section of cylinder 38 are ports 50 which allow liquid contained in tank 10 to flowinto cylinder38 and through opening 51 in the bottom thereof when plug 42 is in a raised position. It should be noted that prior to commencement of the flushing cycle, plug 42 rests on a shoulder or stop which forms the seat 45 on cylinder 38 (see FIG. 8). I

On the bottom end of valve stem 46 is a fill valve 56 which is seatable in a fill valve seat 58 formed in plug 42. An O-ring 60, fitted on fill valve 56, provides a seal to prevent the passage of fluid through plug 42 when In FIG. 2, a check valve assembly 16 is connected be-.

The lower portion of fill valve stem 46 is screwably" engaged with an upper portion thereof at about its middle. Fill valve stem 46 projects through a pressure responsive diaphragm 61 at point 63 where the upper and lower portions of valve stem 46 are screwed together. Diaphragm 61 has a hole formed therein that is sized so that the male member of the screw arrangement can pass through to join the female member, but the stem 46 itself cannot pass through the hole in diaphragm 61. By this arrangement, diaphragm 61 is rigidly secured to valve stem 46 so that vertical movement of valve stem 46 causes vertical movement of diaphragm 61 and vice versa. Diaphragm 61 is slidably retained within the cylinder and is slidably sealed thereto by a flexible rubber gasket 64.

On the bottom portion of diaphragm 61 is a retainer 62 which hermetically seals diaphragm 61 to gasket 64. The combination of retainer 62, diaphragm 61 and gasket 64 hermetically seal the upper end of a chamber 66 within cylinder 38.

As is shown in the drawing, diaphragm 61 may have the configuration of a piston. Diaphragm 61, however, may be a simple plate. In this regard, it should be noted that the function of diaphragm 61 is to form a fluidtight movable ceiling on chamber 66.

A coil compression spring 48 is positioned within cylinder 38 so as to normally urge diaphragm 61 in a downward direction. Coil compression spring 48 is positioned about the valve stem 46 and is coaxial with it. The function of spring 48 is to retard upward motion of valve 56 so as to allow the passage of the amount of water required to reseal bowl 12 after the tank has been flushed. A more detailed explanation of the function of spring 48 appears below.

To adjust the amount of water that will pass into the bowl to reseal the how] after the tank hasbeen flushed, the force exerted bycoil spring 48 is adjustable. The adjusting means includes a member 65 having screwed threads 67 which are engaged with the upper portion of cylinder 38. Screw threads ,67 enable member 65 to be turned and thus raise orlower member 65 to adjust the force or pressure exerted by spring member 48 against diaphragm 61. It should be noted that member 65 is inclusive of a stop 69 for engaging the upper end of spring 48-. Formed within diaphragm 61 is a cylinder 71 for maintaining spring 48 in a proper orientation.

The uppermost end of valve stem 46 which protrudes through tank 10 has a release knob 70 affixed thereto.

OPERATION As is apparent, an upward movement of release knob 70 in the direction of arrow 72 raises the valve stem 46 which in turn raises plug 42 from seat 45. With plug 42 raised from its seated position, as is shown for example in FIG. 2, water 74 in tank 10 flows through ports 50 and out of cylinder 38 via opening 51 and then flows into the toilet bowl 12. Since water 74 is under pressure, as is indicated by double-headed arrow 76, water 74 is actually forced through ports 50 and opening 51. The force of the insurge of pressurized water flowing from tank 10 into bowl 12 during the flushing cycle is dependent on the pressure within the tank, which inthirty pounds per square inch or higher. Once plug 42 is raised and the pressure within the tank 10 is reduced, water enters tank 10 through filler tube 14. Like other prior art hydraulic tanks, tank 10 is designed so that when the tank is flushed, water leaves the tank through outlet 51 much more rapidly than water enters the tank through tiller tube 14.

As the water level in tank 10 drops during the flushing cycle, so does the pressure within tank 10. As the pressure within tank 10 drops, the pressure within chamber 66 of cylinder 38 also drops thus enabling spring 48 to extend and force diaphragm 61 downward. The cylinder and the tank empty rapidly because of the compressed air above the water.

FIGS. 2-8 show in detail the flush and rescaling cycles which occur when the toilet tank of the present invention is operated.

With filler tube 14 connected to a source of pressurized water and with check valve assembly 16 open to permit the water to flow through tube 14 into tank 10,

the ball 24 responding to displace air will seat and hermetically seal the tank, which will fill with water against the compression of air above the water to a predetermined height and thus establish an equilibrium.

To commence flushing, knob is pulled manually in the upward direction of arrow 72 to raise plug 42 from its seated position. Once plug 42 is raised from its seated position, as is shown in FIG. 2, pressurized water within tank 10 flows through ports 50 through the cylinder and out of the tank via opening 51. Immediately thereafter, plug 42 is raised to its highest position by the pressure in the tank which allows unobstructed passage of liquid through the plurality of ports 50 formed in cylinder 38 (see FIG. 3). The decrease in pressure which results from a lowering of the water level in tank 10 allows spring 48 to extend and urge diaphragm 61 downward as is shown in FIG. 4. As is also shown in FIG. 4, the force exerted by spring 48 causes fill valve 56 to extend below plug 42.

As is shown in FIG. 5, when the amount of water in tank 10 is at its lowest level, the force of gravity will seat plug 42 on seat 45. However, because the pressure exerted by spring 48 exceeds the pressure within tank 10, at this point in the cycle, diaphragm 61 is extended to the position shown in FIG. 5 which in turn results in fill valve 56 being positioned below its seated position. With fill valve 56 below its seated position, water entering tank 10 via filler tube 14 passes through ports 50 and axial bore 54, as is shown by arrow 78 in FIG. 5, to reseal bowl 12 after the bowl has been flushed.

As is shown in FIG. 6 by arrow 80, some water entering tank 10 via filler tube 14 enters chamber 66 and causes an upward pressure to be exerted on diaphragm 61. Because liquid flows into tank 10 via filler tube 14 faster than it canexit via the route shown by arrow 78 in FIG. 5, pressure builds up within chamber 66 which causes diaphragm 61 to rise, which in turn causes fill valve 56 to rise with it.

Diaphragm 61 continues to rise until it reaches the position shown in FIG. 8 at which point fill valve 56 is seated in fill valve seat 58 and the tank is resealed and ready for further use.

Since filler tube 14 is connected to a source of pressurized water, water will continue to enter tank 10 until the pressure within the tank is equal to the pressure of the source of water. Once a pressure equilibrium is established, water will not enter tank 10 until the pressure within tank is lower than the pressure of the source of pressurized water which, of course, happens to the pressure in the tank when the tank is flushed.

In one embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing, the air pressure within the tank is regulated by an air vent tube 20. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the function of air vent tube 20, which introduces air into the tank and functions as a vacuum breaker, is accomplished by providing a passageway for air through the top of knob 70 to the bottom portion of fill valve 56. In this embodiment, when the level of liquid in the tank drops below the position of the fill valve, an opening in the bottom of the fill valve, in communication with knob 70, enables air to enter tank 10 and thus, this assembly additionally serves as a vacuum breaker. As the level of liquid in the tank 10 rises, after flushing, air will be unable to enter the tank and liquid will be compressed against the air contained in the tank. For this embodiment of the invention,'fill valve stem 46 is hollow to provide a fluid passageway for air from openings in knob 70 to openings in fill valve 56.

Thus, by following the teachings of the present invention, improved seating and rescaling of hydraulic liquid discharging devices results.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than be the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

We claim:

1. An assembly for filling and discharging a liquid from a hermetically sealed tank of the type which includes a liquid inlet in fluid communication with the tank for introducing a liquid under pressure into the tank comprising a. a cylinder in fluid communication with the tank having an open lower portion and a sealed portion above the open portion with an aperture in said cylinder to provide a flow path for liquid in the tank to said open lower portion,

b. a seat in said cylinder for receiving a plug,

c. a plug having a bore formed therein to provide a passageway for fluid through said plug movably p0-. sitioned within said cylinder,

d. a valve slidably extending through the bore in said plug from the top to the bottom thereof for sealing the lower portion of the bore in said plug, said plug sealing the lower portion of said cylinder when said plug is seated in said seat and said valve seals the lower portion of the bore in said plug, said valve being positioned in relationship to said plug so that an upward movement of said valve moves said plug from a seated position in said seat to expose the flow path between liquid in the tank and said lower portion, v

e. a stem connected to said valve, and

f. a diaphragm within said cylinder, said diaphragm being movably sealed to said cylinder to form said sealed portion, said diaphragm being capable of movement in an upward direction in response to pressure within said cylinder which increases when liquid enters the tank through the inlet, said diaphragm being linked to said valve so that upward movement of said diaphragm raises said valve to seal the lower portion of the bore in saidplug.

2. The assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said stem extends through said diaphragm and said diaphragm is rigidly fixed to said stern.

3. The assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said stern extends through said cylinder and is inclusive of a pull knob affixed to the end of said stem extended through said cylinder.

4. The assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the lower portion of said bore in said plug is shaped and oriented relative to said valve so that an upward movement of said valve causes upward movement of said plug from a seated position while said valve is capable of downward movement without carrying said plug with it when said plug is in a seated position.

5. The assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein the diaphragm moves in response to increased pressure created by liquid entering through the inlet and raises the valve to a seated position in the lower portion of the bore in said plug to reseal the tank after the tank has been flushed.

6. The assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said plug cannot be moved to a position lower than the seated position.

7. The assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said stem extends through a central bore in said plug and said plug has side bores formed therein to provide a passageway for liquid in the tank through said plug to said central bore. 7

8. A hydraulic flush tank comprising a hermetically sealed tank for containing a quantity of liquid, an inlet in said tank for introducing a stream of liquid under pressure into said tank, a cylinder in fluid communication with said tank, said cylinder having ports for allowing a flow of liquid in said tank into said cylinder, a movable plug in said cylinder which when in a closed position rests on a seat at the bottom of said cylinder, a bore in said plug, said bore providing a passageway for liquid traveling from said cylinder out of said tank, a movable valve which is capable of being seated in the lower portion of the bore in said plug so as to provide t a seal therein and prevent the flow of liquid from said tank, said valve being affixed to the lower end of a stem extending through said bore in said plug, the other end of which protrudes through the top of said cylinder and outside of said tank, said plug, valve and bore being so shaped and oriented that an upward movement of said valvecan cause an upward movement of said plug but with said valve being capable of downward movement independently of said plug, and a diaphragm affixed to said stem, said diaphragm being movably sealed to said cylinder, said diaphragm being capable of movement in an upward direction in response to pressure within said cylinder which increases when liquid enters said tank through said inlet, said diaphragm being linked to said valve so that upward movement of said diaphragm raises said valve to seal the lower portion of the bore in said plug. 

1. An assembly for filling and discharging a liquid from a hermetically sealed tank of the type which includes a liquid inlet in fluid communication with the tank for introducing a liquid under pressure into the tank comprising a. a cylinder in fluid communication with the tank having an open lower portion and a sealed portion above the open portion with an aperture in said cylinder to provide a flow path for liquid in the tank to said open lower portion, b. a seat in said cylinder for receiving a plug, c. a plug having a bore formed therein to provide a passageway for fluid through said plug movably positioned within said cylinder, d. a valve slidably extending through the bore in said plug from the top to the bottom thereof for sealing the lower portion of the bore in said plug, said plug sealing the lower portion of said cylinder when said plug is seated in said seat and said valve seals the lower portion of the bore in said plug, said valve being positioned in relationship to said plug so that an upward movement of said valve moves said plug from a seated position in said seat to expose the flow path between liquid in the tank and said lower portion, e. a stem connected to said valve, and f. a diaphragm within said cylinder, said diaphragm being movably sealed to said cylinder to form said sealed portion, said diaphragm being capable of movement in an upward direction in response to pressure within said cylinder which increases when liquid enters the tank through the inlet, said diaphragm being linked to said valve so that upward movement of said diaphragm raises said valve to seal the lower portion of the bore in said plug.
 2. The assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said stem extends through said diaphragm and said diaphragm is rigidly fixed to said stem.
 3. The assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said stem extends through said cylinder and is inclusive of a pull knob affixed to the end of said stem extended through said cylinder.
 4. The assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the lower portion of said bore in said plug is shaped and oriented relative to said valve so that an upward movement of said valve causes upward movement of said plug from a seated position while said valve is capable of downward movement without carrying said plug with it when said plug is in a seated position.
 5. The assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein the diaphragm moves in response to increased pressure created by liquid entering through the inlet and raises the valve to a seated position in the lower portion of the bore in said plug to reseal the tank after the tank has been flushed.
 6. The assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said plug cannot be moved to a position lower than the seated position.
 7. The assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said stem extends through a central bore in said plug and said plug has side bores formed therein to provide a passageway for liquid in the tank through said plug to said central bore.
 8. A hydraulic flush tank comprising a hermetically sealed tank for containing a quantity of liquid, an inlet in said tank for introduciNg a stream of liquid under pressure into said tank, a cylinder in fluid communication with said tank, said cylinder having ports for allowing a flow of liquid in said tank into said cylinder, a movable plug in said cylinder which when in a closed position rests on a seat at the bottom of said cylinder, a bore in said plug, said bore providing a passageway for liquid traveling from said cylinder out of said tank, a movable valve which is capable of being seated in the lower portion of the bore in said plug so as to provide a seal therein and prevent the flow of liquid from said tank, said valve being affixed to the lower end of a stem extending through said bore in said plug, the other end of which protrudes through the top of said cylinder and outside of said tank, said plug, valve and bore being so shaped and oriented that an upward movement of said valve can cause an upward movement of said plug but with said valve being capable of downward movement independently of said plug, and a diaphragm affixed to said stem, said diaphragm being movably sealed to said cylinder, said diaphragm being capable of movement in an upward direction in response to pressure within said cylinder which increases when liquid enters said tank through said inlet, said diaphragm being linked to said valve so that upward movement of said diaphragm raises said valve to seal the lower portion of the bore in said plug. 